Puzzle board toy assembly



1965 R. GENIN ETAL 3,181,869

PUZZLE BOARD TOY ASSEMBLY Filed April 4, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 1 l7 I? F 3/ Z7 FIG. 5. 29 M f 'f F] 6. I L l 55 ,6 9 l8 ORS Z0 ROBERT I. GENIN &

, LEON S. WIRCH ATTORNEY.

[j [k K/JQM y 1965 R. l. GENIN ETAL 3,181,869

' PUZZLE BOARD TOY ASSEMBLY Filed April 4, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS R0 T I. GENIN 8 LE 5. WIRCH ATTORNEY v y 1965 R. 1. GENIN ETAL 3,fi81l,869

PUZZLE BOARD TOY ASSEMBLY Filed April 4, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. /5.

INVENTORS I ROBERT I. GENIN & LEON s. WIRCH ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,181,869 PUZZLE BOARD TOY ASSEMBLY Robert I. Genin, New Rochelle, and Leon S. Wirch, Forest Hills, N.Y., assignors to Child Guidance Toys, Inc, Bronx, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 185,026 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-157) This invention relates to a magnetic puzzle plaque.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a puzzle plaque that not only teaches and guides children of young age to work puzzles but once the puzzle has been made the puzzle pieces are held in place by built-in magnets and the assembly can actually be used as a plaque and suspended upon a wall with puzzle Pieces positively retained therein so that the child can view from a wall his work of art.

It is another object of the invention to provide a puzzle toy for children by which the child can be assisted and guided in the placing of the pieces not only by outline openings of the plaque but by virtue of permanent magnets in the puzzle pieces and a heavy metal backing in an unbreakable decorative frame, whereby the puzzle pieces will remain in the position that they are placed and the problem of confusion resulting from puzzle pieces getting out of place to hinder a young child from progress of puzzle making and his early grasp thereof is prevented.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a magnetic puzzle plaque toy assembly for guiding children in the assembling of puzzle parts wherein the assembly includes a holder frame, metal backing and outline assembly parts, wherein the same holder frame and metal backing can be used for other outline parts and puzzle pieces and different shaped puzzles can be made by simply substituting puzzle outline parts for one another within the frame.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a magnetic puzzle plaque for guiding children in the making of puzzles in which after the child has performed and been well initiated into the first step of forming the puzzles within an outline opening part, the child can take a second step requiring more challenge, dexterity and skill in which the puzzle can be put together without the puzzle outline opening part, and directly upon the metal backing sheet to a free outline marked thereupon to guide the child while making the puzzle without the guide outline opening frame.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a puzzle frame assembly in which the child can make a puzzle and that may serve as a picture plaque to be placed upon the wall whereby to instill in the child a desire to do works of art at a young age and before the crayon stage and with which the childs room may be decorated and the child place it among his own works of art.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a puzzle plaque assembly for children, having the above objects in mind, which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to mold, is attractive and pleasing to the children, imbued with high color, easy for the child to assemble, the puzzle plaque parts being assembled by snap or press fitting, and most will give puzzle guidance as well as fun to the child.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one of interchangeable puzzle outline opening parts which is placed in the puzzle frame and in which the puzzle pieces are assembled,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a metal backing sheet adapted to be disposed under the puzzle outline opening part within the holder frame to retain the magnetic puzzle pieces,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the holder frame with an open rear grill and adapted to receive the metal backing sheet and the puzzle outline opening part in a tight fitting manner,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the puzzle plaque fully assembled within the outline frame and the puzzle pieces gripped to the metal backing sheet by their magnets and constructed with the parts of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 according to one form of the invention,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view of the puzzle outline opening frame as viewed on line 5-5 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the main holder frame as viewed on line 6-6 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view of the complete puzzle assembly as viewed on line 7-7 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 8 is a collective perspective view of the puzzle plaque assembly with the magnetic puzzle pieces partly assembled therein and illustrating the manner in which the child places the parts within the outline part,

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the puzzle plaque parts lifted from one another and illustrating the manner in which they are assembled together and press fitted within the holder frame,

FIG. 10 is a plan view of one of the magnetic puzzle pieces with a portion of the same broken away to show the pocket for containing the magnet,

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the puzzle piece shown in FIG. 10 as viewed in line 11-11 thereof but with the magnet element disposed therein, and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through the magnet pocket Well and magnet as viewed on line 12-12 of FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the puzzle plaque assembly without the puzzle pieces assembled therein and ready to be worked by the child and the parts being constructed slightly different for snap in assembly instead of press fitted and according to a preferred form of the invention,

FIG. 14 is a collective view of the magnetic puzzle piece loosely assembled with one of the same broken away to show the magnet thereof,

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the completed puzzle plaque hanging upon the wall, with the puzzle pieces being held in place by their magnets,

FIG. 16 is a plan view similar to FIG. 13 but with portions of the parts broken away to show the construction of the holder frame and the snap on projections of the outline part that retains the outline part in the holder frame, and

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the assembly as viewed on line 17-17 of FIG. 16.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 3, there is shown a plastic holder frame 15 of rectangular configuration having continuous sides 16 and ends 17 but between which there is extended open rear grill work 18 making for less weight of the holder frame and giving to the frame an artistic and symmetrical appearance for the child to View. This holder frame 15 is molded of unbreakable hard plastic and has a continuous internal ledge 19 with lug extensions 20 adapted to support and bear a sheet metal backing part 21 and outline opening part 22 that goes to make up the assembly. This ledge 19 is coplanar with the portions of the grill work 18 and has a peripheral wall 23 with which the outline opening part 22 matches and tightly fits to hold the assembly together.

Before placing the puzzle outline opening part 22 into the holder frame in tight fitting relationship with the peripheral wall 23 of the ledge 19, the sheet metal backing part 21 is placed upon the grill work 18 and with its edges carried on the ledge 19. The backing part 21 is of ferrous metal such that it may close a magnetic circuit of a magnet and cause any part placed on its surface having a magnet to be attracted and fixed thereto. This sheet backing part 21 has an outline marking 24 corresponding in shape to an outline opening or picture window 26 of the puzzle outline opening part 22. This sheet metal can be coated with a color layer as by photo-lithography to have a pleasing appearance and yet clearly outline the puzzle configuration thereon by the outline marking 24.

The puzzle outline opening part 22 has about its sides and end a depending rib 27, the outer face of which as indicated at 23, FIG. 5, being adapted to have tight flush fit engagement with the peripheral wall 23 around the ledge 19 of the holder frame 15. Extending about the puzzle outline opening 26 is a reinforcing rib 29 depending from the outline edge so that the edge of the outline will not be inwardly deflected but with the rib 29 engaging the surface of the sheet metal backing part 21 will be rigidly supported and so that any of the puzzle pieces cannot readily be passed under the closed portions of the puzzle outline opening part 22. The puzzle outline opening part 22 is made preferably of hard transparent plastic so that any coloring on the sheet metal backing part 21 can be observed therethrough to provide the background for the assembled puzzle.

With the holder frame 15 the metal sheet backing part 21 and the puzzle outline part 22 assembled together in tight fitting relationship in the manner as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8, the child can then proceed to place puzzle pieces 31 into the outline 26 of part 22 and follow the contours thereof and to match the puzzle pieces with one another until all of the puzzle pieces have been assembled in the outline. The child will have made an accomplishment and performed a great feat. These pieces are fitted in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 8 one at a time with edges of the puzzle pieces adapted to conform to the outline 26 of the part 22 and other edges of the puzzle pieces to conform with adjacent puzzle pieces until finally the entire assemblage has been completed as shown in FIG. 4. These puzzle pieces 31 are also of soft plastic and preferably different colors in order to render a pleasing appearance to the child.

Each of the puzzle pieces 31 are preferably formed of molded soft plastic and have a depending peripheral rib 32 to give thickness to the puzzle piece and a pocket well 33 into which a small magnet 34 is press fitted or builtin. The magnet 34 itself is made of rubber-like material bearing metal magnet filings and is adapted to have attraction for the sheet metal backing part 21 so that the puzzle piece will be fixed in place upon the sheet metal backing part 21. There can be any number of these puzzle pieces. As the child puts these puzzles together they will learn sizes and shapes of puzzle parts and at the same time with the puzzle pieces being of different colors and the background of the metal sheet being of color, the colors will be learned. The working of the puzzle by the child also gives him a pleasurable challenge and he will develop dexterity and skill. Once the puzzle pieces are in place, they will be retained by their magnets 34 upon the sheet metal so that there is little opportunity for these puzzle pieces to be dislocated once they have been put in their proper position. The outline opening or picture window 26 of the part 22 at the same time will hold the puzzle pieces against expansion.

When the puzzle has been completed Within the outline opening part 22 and different wood puzzle plaques made heretofore, the entire assembly can be hung upon a wall in the childs bedroom and give him an early feeling for art and color.

Once the child has learned to make these assemblages in the outline opening part 26, he can forego the use of this outline part and make the same directly upon the sheet metal backing part with reference only to its marked outline 24. This will give to the child a second step in the learning of making puzzles. While the child does not have the advantage of the outline opening 26, he does have the advantage of the magnet 34 of each of the puzzle pieces so there is little opportunity for the puzzle pieces to shift upon the metal sheet backing 21. With the outline or picture frame part 22 having been removed to perform the second step, it may now be put over the finished puzzle and fixed into the holder frame.

Referring now particularly to the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, a holder frame 35 formed of unbreakable plastic is provided with an internal grill work supporting portion 38 that extends between a ledge 39 with lugs 40 that surrounds the inner side of the frame.

The metal sheet backing part 21 is rested in the folder frame 35 with its side edges upon the ledge 39 and projections 40 thereof. The grill work supports the sheet metal backing part 21 and it is held in place within the holder frame by an outline opening or picture window part 42 that has a peripheral depending edge 43 conforming in shape to the ledge 39 and resting to its full extent upon the metal sheet backing part 21 over the ledge 39. Instead of the outline opening part 42 being press fitted into the holder frame it is snapped thereinto and held by means of lugs 34 extending from the side edges of the depending edge 43, into slots 45 in the sides of the frame. There are two such lugs on the left side that are first inserted in the slots 45 and thereafter the single lug 44 on the right side is extended into a single slot 45 on the right side with the parts flexing sufficiently to permit the insertion of the lug 44 at the right side. The outline opening or picture window part 42 is thus snapped into place in the holder frame 35 and retained by its lugs 44.

The outline opening or picture frame part 42 has an outline or picture opening 46 and as in the first form of the invention a depending rib 49 surrounding the outline opening so that the magnetic puzzle pieces 31 will not pass under the outline opening part 42 on being placed in position within the outline opening 46. The magnets 34 hold the puzzle pieces against the sheet metal backing part 21 and such that the finished puzzle plaque can be suspended upon a wall 50 as illustrated in FIG. 15 and at a location above the baseboard 51.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a puzzle plaque which unlike puzzle plaques used heretofore is so constructed that with the use of puzzle pieces that have magnets and metal sheet backing, the puzzle plaque can be suspended from a wall so that the childs work of art can be displayed to his great satisfaction, the wood plaques with puzzle pieces as used heretofore have no means for keeping the puzzle pieces in the opening were it attempted to upright the plaque.

It will be apparent that two of the parts can be combined with one another for instance the picture window part may be made integral with the frame, the metal backing and frame combined or all three of the parts form a unitary structure.

All of the parts of this puzzle assembly are made of colorful plastic preferably differing color from part to part and from puzzle piece to puzzle piece so that the color guidance is given to the child with the assemblage of the principal parts and the puzzle pieces.

It should now be apparent that the child in using this assembly will be given considerable help in the working of puzzles and can be given an early appreciation of art and colors to encourage and guide his mental development.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction of this invention, it shall be understood that such changes shall be Within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A magnetic puzzle plaque toy assembly comprising a holder frame having side and end members defining an opening, a foraminous grill extending across said opening, a continuous internal ledge having upright walls extending around the inner sides of the side and end members,

lugs extending from said ledge into said opening, a ferrous metal, colored backing sheet seating on said lugs and said ledge Within said upright Walls, a transparent puzzle outline sheet conforming in external dimensions to said backing sheet seated on top of said backing sheet within said upright Walls, said puzzle outline sheet having an internal opening of irregular configuration defining a puzzle outline, depending outer and inner flanges defining the outer perimeter of said puzzle outline sheet, and said puzzle outline opening respectively, said outer flange having a tight flush fit with the opening defined by said upright walls, the color of said backing sheet being visible through said transparent sheet, and a plurality of soft molded plastic puzzle pieces, defining, when properly assembled, a figure conforming to the puzzle outline opening, each of said pieces comprising a colored sheet of irregular configuration having a depending peripheral flange, and an internal flange defining a pocket well, and a compressible magnet, force fitted into said well.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,290,761 1/19 Lester 273-157 2,002,077 5/35 Darling et a1 273-157 2,361,479 10/44 Joffo 40-154 X 2,570,625 10/51 Zimmerman et al 46-24 2,647,834 8/53 Rabkin et a1 40-152 X 2,785,490 3/57 Fabry 40-152 X 2,871,600 2/59 Woodruif 40-152 FOREIGN PATENTS 434,491 8/35 Great Britain.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. 

